Thailand reported two more Covid-19 deaths and 279 new infections amid worries the trend will continue as more people are travelling during the New Year holiday.

The new cases brought the totals to 63 deaths and 7,163 cases, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

The centre said the new deaths were a man, 44, who had visited a restaurant in Bangkok on Dec 20 and a 70-year-old man who had illegally entered the country along the border from Myanmar to Mae Sot district of Tak on Tuesday.

Of the 279 new cases, 257 were local infections. They included those linked to the clusters in Samut Sakhon (3), Rayong (2) and Chon Buri (1) while 16 had jobs at risk of infection. The remaining 235 cases are being investigated.

CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the centre was worried more cases would be found as people are travelling or returning to the provinces during the New Year holidays.

He said the Public Health Ministry had ordered health provincial chiefs in Bangkok and eight other provinces to strengthen health measures and consider closing all entertainment venues to contain the spread.

The targeted provinces are Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkram, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chon Buri and Rayong.